Improvement in mowing-machines



M. V. CUMMINGS.

Mowing Machine.

No. 77,719. v Patented May 12. 1868.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

-2 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. V. CUMMINGS.

Mowing Machine.

Patented 'May 12, 1868..

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IMPROVEMENT IN MOWING-MAOHINES.

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TO ALL PERSONS TO WHOM TI-IESEPRESENTS MAY COME:,

Be it known that I, MARCELLUS V. CUMMING, of Winthrop, in the county of Kennebec, and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Automatic Mowing-Machine and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification, and represented in.the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 denotes a top view, and Figure 2 a side elevation of it.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of it, taken longitudinally through the rear axle of its main carriage, and

exhibiting the two enginecylinders, with the boiler and the appurtenances thereof, in advance of the plane of section. l Figure 4 is a vertical section of the-boiler, its covering, a spark-arrester, and smoke-pipe. Such other figures as may be necessary to complete the proper delineation of my invention will be hereinafter referred to and described.

The main object of my invention is to effect the mowing of a field of grass or the reaping of a. field of grain by what is termed a steam-carringc, and certain mechanism to be operated by the steam-engine or engines of such carriage. To this end I have invented an automatic mowinganaeliine, whose steam-engine'noi, only serves to impel such machine alongver a surface to be mowed, but at the same time puts in operation the mechanism for mowing the grass or grain to be out.

In the drawings, A denotes a. platformor carriagebody, provided with two axles 13-0, each of them having two wheels applied to its two ends. ,The forward axle, C, carrying the smaller pair of wheels, turnsvertically on a hearing or pin, a, going through the hub b of a \vormgear, 0, so applied to a. spring, (I, as to be capable of being revolved in a horizontal plane, the spring being attached to the front part of the carriage-body, and being arranged therewith, as shown in Figure 5. The said figure is a front end View of the body, the'axle, and theworm-gear. The carriage-body thus rests on the springs, whilethe latter is supported on the worm-gear, which in turn is sustained by the pin going through its hub and the axle. By applying a worm or endless screw to 'the said gear, and aiiixing to the carriage-body a shaft and means for revolving such screw, a person, while on the carriage-body, may effectthe turning of the axle so as to change the direction of motion of the carriage as circumstances may require. The axle, by being able to turn in a vertical plane, will enable either of its wheels to readily pass over an obstruction, without at the same time and in like degree throwing up the other wheel, and racking the carriage.

.To the carriage-platform or body A, an uprighttubular steam-boiler or generator, D, is fixed, such boiler being surrounded on its top and sides by a cylindrical case or sparksarrester, E, from the lower part of which the smoke-discharge pipe F rises in manner as represented. The smoke, after passing from the fireplace through the tubes ofthe boiler, rushes in-to the arrester thence passes down around the external surface of L the boiler, and deposits the sparks on the bottom of the arrester, the smoke escaping by the pipe F.'

There is fixed to the boiler a bracket or projection, G, which supports in bearings r: the trunnions of two oscillating steam-engine cylinders I I, whose pistons K K are applied to two cranksff, projecting from a. driving-shaft, L, which extends across the frame A, and is supported in suitable bearings applied thereto. One of the cranks I arrange at a right angle with respect to the other. 7

Furthermore, there is hinged to the frame A the finger-bur gof a cutting-apparatus, M, such bar being provided .with teeth. The serrated knife it of such machine slides freely on the lower bar, and has a projectiomi, cxtendii'ig'from its inner end into a serpentine cam-groove, It, made in the periphery of a drum, N, fixed on the driving-shaft L. When the said shaft is in revolution, and the projection i is in the said groovc, a reciprocating rectilinear motion will be imparted to the cutter-bar of the mowing-machine. The finger-bar maybe turned up into a vertical position, and there be locked by a spring-catch, Z, projecting from the frame A. On such bar being turned'dmrn, a roller or wheel, m, will rest on the ground,.in which position the machine will be in a state for mowing grass.

A toothed pinion, m, fixed on the driving-shaft, engage s with a gear, 1L, on the rear-wheel axle of the carriage A. The gear n should be so applied to the axlcas to be capable of being moved thereon either into or out of engagementwith the pinion n. Thus, while the driving-shaft may be in revolution, the mowing-machinery will not only be put in operation, but the rear axle of the carriage will be revolved, so as to effect a simultadeviate from a straight line. t

neous forward propulsion of the carriage and the mowingrjnechanism.

In order to facilitate the movement of the machine up an-acclivity, I apply to ,the main carriage A an auxiliary carriage or frame, 0, providedwith an axle, P,'and two ivheelsQ Q, andIcormcct the said axlo with i the rear axle of the platform A by means of an endless chain, It, going about thg grooved peripheries of two wheels S S, fixed to the two axles. I connectthe two carriage-bodies A O by a projoctiomo, carrying ajoint pin, 1'], to eritend down intoa hole made vertically through the middle of the rear bar of the frame A, the said projection 0 being extended from the auxiliary frame 0. By such means I am enabled to employ the axle I, its wheels, the endless chain and its wheels, as auxiliary uieans for effecting the propulsion of the carriage A; for, by having the additional friction of the axle-wheels on the ground, when such wheels are propelled by the endless chain and its wheels; so much additional means of propulsion is gained. The mode of connccting'tho two frames A 0 together enables the frame 0 to readily follow the frame A, when the course 'of' the latter may One of the wheels of the rear akle of the carriagebudy A, I fix firmly to the axle, so as to revolve therewith. The other wheel I so apply to the axle as to be capable of freely revolving on it, and combine with such axle and the last-named wheel, a clutch, g, by which the said .WllCUl and axle may be so connected as to cause the axle while in revolution to revolve the wheel.

In the above-described automatic mowing-machine or organism, I claim as my invention the following:

1. I clnimthe combination of a cutting-apparatus, M, a vheeled carriage, and 'a steam-engine applied to both, BO flS to put them in operation under circumstances and substantially in manner and for the purposes as hereinbefo're explained v 7 2! I alsoelaim the combination of an auxiliary wheel-carriage, O, and mechanism as described, (viz, th chain ahd wheels S S',) or its equivalent, for revolving its axle tvith the mowing-machine, its g'chcel-carriage, and a steam-engine applied to both,'so as to put them in operation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth,

. L MARCELLUS v. GUMMING. Witnesses:

R. H. ,Enor,

F. P. HALE, Jr. 

